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What Microsoft open-sourced
The open-source release covers the client code for the GitHub Copilot Chat extension, now housed in the microsoft/vscode-copilot-chat repository. The VS Code Team announced the MIT-licensed release on June 30, 2025, and invited developers to inspect the code, report issues, and contribute pull requests.
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That client code includes implementation details such as prompts, telemetry capture, and agent-mode behavior. Making those parts public gives developers a way to examine how the extension is built and suggest changes. It does not, by itself, establish that every data practice is configurable or that every proposed change will be accepted.
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How the open-source effort developed
| Date | Milestone | What changed |
|---|---|---|
| May 19, 2025 | Initial announcement | The VS Code Team said it would open-source the Copilot Chat extension under MIT and refactor relevant components into VS Code core. |
| June 30, 2025 | Chat extension released | The Copilot Chat extension became available in the public repository under the MIT license. The original Copilot inline-completions extension remained closed source at that milestone. |
| November 6, 2025 | Inline suggestions added to the effort | Microsoft reported that inline suggestions were open source and described a plan to consolidate chat, agent mode, next-edit suggestions, and inline suggestions in one Copilot Chat extension. |
The destination Microsoft described is broader than an open extension: it intends to move relevant AI components into VS Code core as it builds an open-source AI editor. The team has said it will continue to prioritize performance, extensibility, and user-interface quality during that work.
#1 Best Overall
- Instant Copilot. Unlock new possibilities with the dedicated Copilot key, which gives you instant access to experiences that can enhance your productivity¹.
- Enhance your experience With the new microphone mute key and snipping key
- Full keyboard experience. Features a full mechanical keyset, backlit keys, and a large trackpad for precise navigation and control. Optimal key spacing allows fast, fluid typing.
- Slim and compact Performs like a traditional, full-size keyboard.
- Clicks in place instantly Use in combination with the Surface Pro (11th Edition), Pro 9 and Pro 8* kickstand for a perfect laptop experience anywhere.
What remains closed or account-gated
Opening the extension does not open-source GitHub Copilot’s backend services. The VS Code FAQ says those services remain closed source. Copilot’s models are separately licensed and may come from providers including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. The release therefore does not provide a self-hosted version of Microsoft’s hosted inference services.
Users still need a GitHub account and access to Copilot. The FAQ says individual developers can use the Copilot Free plan subject to restrictions; making the client code open source does not make every Copilot feature free or remove account and plan requirements.
Rank #2
- Instant Copilot. Unlock new possibilities with the dedicated Copilot key, which gives you instant access to experiences that can enhance your productivity¹.
- Enhance your experience With the new microphone mute key and snipping key
- Full keyboard experience. Features a full mechanical keyset, backlit keys, and a large trackpad for precise navigation and control. Optimal key spacing allows fast, fluid typing.
- Slim and compact Performs like a traditional, full-size keyboard.
- Clicks in place instantly Use in combination with the Surface Pro (11th Edition), Pro 9 and Pro 8* kickstand for a perfect laptop experience anywhere.
What happens to the older Copilot extension
In its November 6, 2025 update, Microsoft said the separate GitHub Copilot extension would be deprecated by early 2026 and removed from the VS Code Marketplace as part of the consolidation. That was the announced schedule. The available information here does not confirm whether the removal was completed, so users should check the current Marketplace listing and VS Code release notes before relying on the old extension’s availability.
The same update said the unified extension was being rolled out progressively and that a temporary setting would let users revert to the previous two-extension behavior if they encountered problems. Because rollout and setting names can change, consult the current VS Code guidance for the exact control rather than relying on an older configuration path.
Rank #3
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What the change means for VS Code developers
For people who want to inspect or contribute
The public repository gives developers a place to inspect the extension’s implementation and propose fixes or changes. Microsoft presented community innovation, easier extension development and testing, transparency into collected data, and the security benefits of public issues and pull requests as reasons for opening the code. Those are goals and opportunities, not measured guarantees of better performance, security, or productivity.
For extension authors
Microsoft says extension authors retain backwards-compatible stable APIs. VS Code also documents APIs for language models, tools, and shell execution, giving AI extensions ways to integrate with editor capabilities. The change does not require authors to build on Copilot Chat: VS Code users can continue to use other AI coding extensions, including Cline and Roo Code.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Instant Copilot. Unlock new possibilities with the dedicated Copilot key, which gives you instant access to experiences that can enhance your productivity¹.
- Enhance your experience With the new microphone mute key and snipping key
- Full keyboard experience. Features a full mechanical keyset, backlit keys, and a large trackpad for precise navigation and control. Optimal key spacing allows fast, fluid typing.
- Slim and compact Performs like a traditional, full-size keyboard.
- Clicks in place instantly Use in combination with the Surface Pro (11th Edition), Pro 9 and Pro 8* kickstand for a perfect laptop experience anywhere.
What openness does—and does not—let you verify
- You can inspect: published client-side implementation, including code related to prompts, telemetry capture, and agent behavior.
- You cannot infer from the repository alone: that Copilot’s backend is open source, that its models are freely licensed, or that the hosted service can be run independently.
- You can contribute: by reporting issues or proposing changes in the public project, subject to the project’s review and maintenance decisions.
- You should check separately: Copilot account and plan access, current extension availability, and the latest migration instructions in VS Code.
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